The Effects of Clindamycin and Cefazolin on Osteogenesis of Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells: An In vitro Study

 Antibiotics are routinely administered in clinical setting for prevention of infections in surgeries and as a routine supplement to the culture medium. The nobility of the present study was to evaluate the effect of two commonly used antibiotics, clindamycin and cefazolin, in dental treatments, on osteogenic capability of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs). 

 PDLSCs were isolated from periodontal ligament (PDL) of the root section out of four healthy extracted teeth. The cells were incubated in the following medium for 28 days: (1) Osteogenic medium (OM) + 5 µm clindamycin (clindamycin group), (2) OM + 5 µm cefazolin (cefazolin group) and (3) OM (control group). Alizarin red staining was performed at days 7, 14, 21, and 28 of induction. 

 Addition of cefazolin to osteogenic medium had no significant effect on osteogenesis comparing to the control group. However, Clindamycin significantly inhibited osteogenesis at days 7 and 21 comparing to the control group (P<0.05), but there was no significant differences at 14 and 28 days. 

 It is demonstrated that clindamycin had inhibitory effects on osteogenesis in early stages, but it promoted osteogenesis in later stages. Cefazolin seems not inhibit osteogenic potential of the cells. Taken together, prescribing cefazolin or clindamycin did not cause any negative effect on osteogenesis for long-term.